The End is Near

Locke and Key has been one of my favorite series of the past few years. While there was that one annoying volume with the key that opened up people’s heads, overall the book has done a great job of building tension and creating a mythos surrounding Key House and the residents therein. Now it looks like it is time for the payoff. The first issue of Locke & Key: Omega, the final volume in the series, is scheduled for release this November.

There is an interesting note at the end of the press release…something about this being the end of the Locke family story does not mean this is the end of Locke & Key. Given the recent release of the standalone Locke & Key: Grindhouse, could Joe Hill be plotting something along the lines of American Horror Story where the second season takes place in the past?

What ever happens, I’m there!

As Thornton Wilder once said, “All good things must come to an end, but all bad things can continue forever,” a quote that seems eerily appropriate for LOCKE & KEY. While at times frighteningly dark and brutally violent, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez’s Eisner-winning series has also sailed on winds of high fantasy and elaborate mystery, striking a mesmerizing balance and attracting a fervent and dedicated audience. While new issues may cease to appear before too long, the unique and vivid memories will live on in fans’ minds and shelves forever.

“Locke & Key is the most fun I’ve ever had writing anything. It’s been a Catherine’s Wheel that throws off story possibilities instead of sparks and a part of me thinks I could live in Keyhouse forever. But I made a promise to the reader in the first issues, that one day ‘all doors would be opened,’ and that time is now,” said writer and co-creator Hill. “Time to open the door that leads to the end of our story and step through. Hopefully readers will like what’s waiting for them on the other side.”

After thirty-odd issues the decisive battle for Keyhouse must be fought; debts and spirits must be settled. LOCKE & KEY: Omega, beginning this November, is where the Locke family’s story, so masterfully begun in WELCOME TO LOVECRAFT, reaches its conclusion.

“Locke & Key has been a journey into pain, wonder, horror, magic, fear, courage, failure, love, hate, and hope. To get lost in this mythology and drama has given me the chance to develop visuals and narrative in a way I could never have imagined possible. Mostly because of the collaborative effort with best friends and artists with passion, creativity and insanity unleashed. Guys, what a ride!,” said artist and co-creator Rodriguez. “But we’ve always been heading to a conclusion that will finally see the light at the end of this last journey. I’m as eager and excited as any reader to open the last door, reveal the final mystery, and unveil the fate of our beloved characters. Be warned – unexpected turns and terrible surprises ahead!”

“We’re building toward a conclusion that Joe’s had in mind since WELCOME TO LOVECRAFT,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief and Locke & Key’s editor. “And while some of the story elements have shifted along the way, I can’t remember ever seeing a long-running series that’s had the complete story so fully developed from the start. I can’t wait for people to see it. But I recommend everyone pick up two copies of this series, since the issues are gonna end up stained with tears when readers see what’s going to happen to these beloved characters.”

“And, just because this is the end of the Locke family’s story doesn’t mean it’s the very end of Locke & Key,” Ryall added cryptically…

LOCKE & KEY: Omega #1 (of 7) is 32 pages, FC, $3.99 and will be available in November.